I just came across this website and was
thinking that this particular thread can
be a big help to me and to other people as
well who browse this site...
Im 24 years old and a diagnosed bipolar 2
patient... I was diagnoses about 4 years
ago and have been through maybe 4-5
phychiatrists and maybe the same number of
pschologists... The first pshychiatrist I
saw did a number of testing batteries on
me and found my behavior to be conducive
to a bipolar patient... This was all done
when I was still under my fathers
insurance plan, so thank god I had this
oppurtunity... Unfortunately though, when
the first doc I went to prescribed me
depakote, I was not constant with the meds
and did not follow through with the
cognitive treatment plan I was recieving
from the psychologists...
These are the meds I have taken throughout
these four years; depakote, celexa,
risperadol, tegretol, lexapro, and another
one I cant think of the name...
As I went through these meds, and the side
effects, I said to myself one day that I
could handle the situation without them,
and abadoned my search for the medications
that could help me...
The side effects ranged from, decreased
libido, hair loss, to nausea, and
light-headedness... To me, this was
unacceptable... I couldnt really bear
them all, I felt like a zombie...
Honestly, I felt like the doctor who I was
seeing, who was one of the best
physchatrists in the world (supposedly)
was just using me as a guinea pig in terms
of all the meds...
Anyways, here I am about a year later, and
I have been off my meds, but still the
mood swings are there, and as are a few
other traits...
Im curious as to what most of you here
think about bipolar, are you unsure of the
medications aspect of the treatment, are
you indifferent??
If any of you are bipolar and have some
advice on how I can handle the mood
swings, I would be very much thankful for
it...
From the bottom of my heart, I truly
believe that those of us who have bipolar
disorder can be led to believe many things
that are not true about us... How meds
are the only way out, and since not much
is known about bipolar disorder, we can be
led to believe things that arent true...
The toying around with medications is just
insane, and some of these newer meds
sideffects will not be known for
years...
Anyways, sorry for the rant, but it just
frustrates me... But please, if you have
any information on how to work with
bipolar or anything, I would greatly
appreciate it...
Regards...
|
BPjoe23
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 111 Location: dfw tx
Posted: 10-25-05 16:51pm
I hate to sound rude, but if you had all
those side effects why didn't you talk to
your doctor about them.. You have to do
your part to talk to the doctor about how
your feeling and how you feel on certin
meds...
I'm 23 and bipolar. Here's some advice
for you. Keep a mood chart and keep track
of your moods after a while you will start
to notice a pattern.
Also keep track of what you eat and drink
caffine and cholate( can pick us bipolars
up then onces it wears off it brings us
down and makes us feel worse well at least
that's how it is for me.) exercise,drink
lots of water.
Go to n.A.M.I. And d.B.S.A. Support
groups. Keep a joural of your mood and
eatting habbit.. Your doctor and
therapist can only do so much your the one
that they are trying to help. But you got
to help your self by telling them how you
feel and what the meds are doing to you so
they can help you. I don't think the
doctor was genny piging you I think he
just gave you what he knew what works for
other bipolar telling him what works.
Most p-doctors give certin meds basiced
on what has worked for that patient/
hasn't worked for that patient in the
past and what his other patients that he
has ,has told them what words for him, and
what he has seen work though test.
